AL only has election on its mind

With the national election drawing closer, the ruling Awami League's focus is on reorganising the party.

The BNP and other opposition parties' anti-government programmes are of little concern for the AL leadership now, insiders said.

AL leaders are working to bring discipline within the party so that it can participate in the election without rifts among local groups.

When the top AL leaders met AL President Sheikh Hasina at the Gono Bhaban on Wednesday, on the occasion of her "homecoming day", she directed them to resolve internal feuds and asked them to be prepared for making sacrifices, no matter how serious, for the party before the polls slated for next January.

Contacted, AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said, "Our preparation for the next parliamentary polls is going on in full swing. We are concentrating on finalising our campaign strategy, working on our manifesto, and conducting surveys to find the candidates fit for nomination."

The AL is assuming that all political parties will participate in the election, he said when asked about the uncertainty over BNP's participation.

"But our final election strategy will depend on the situation."

The AL is also eyeing more votes by bringing like-minded political parties under its fold. It started talks with the partners of its "14-party ideological alliance" to bridge gaps that have developed over time, insiders say.

The AL has already conducted several surveys to identify possible nominees. Some more surveys will be done to select three suitable candidates from each constituency. One individual will eventually be chosen.

In order to ensure discipline, the central AL leadership summoned leaders from 27 district units. Nine of them failed to hold councils after the tenure of the previous committee ended.

Leaders from 18 districts, where councils were held but no announcement of full committees was made within 45 days, were asked to meet central leaders with names of members for the proposed fully-fledged committees.

The AL asked its MPs and nomination aspirants to visit their constituencies to maintain close contact with the voters. They were also asked to work together with grassroots leaders and join the campaign trail of the person who gets nominated by the party, even if that means making sacrifices.

A central committee member of the AL, requesting anonymity, said the ruling party was least bothered about BNP's plans for anti-government demonstrations because the people would reject the party for its anti-state stance. "We are on our way to participate in the election. We are preparing for it."

Other AL insiders said the AL manifesto for the 12th national election will highlight the pledge for a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041.

According to party insiders, one of the main themes of AL's election campaign will be the achievements of the AL-led governments since 2009.

The AL campaigners will compare the BNP-led four-party government with the current one and talk about the situation that prevailed after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.